KERALA - Kadala Curry

**Author - Alee Venkatesh **



Kadala (chickpeas) curry and Puttu - popular breakfast food in Kerala (also known as 'God's own country"), Indian state in South India on the Malabar Coast.

Puttu- made by steaming roasted rice flour and fresh coconut in log shaped round metal vessel with flat bottom and cylindrical tube fitted over pot. 

 
INGREDIENTS & METHOD

  •  400 gms - cooked chickpeas (white or black variety)
  • 1 potato - cut into bite size, cooked until tender (optional)
  • 1 cup - fresh grated coconut 
  • Salt & red chilli powder to taste
  • 1 each - red onion & tomato - sliced
  •  handful of curry leaves & few green chillies
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 2.5 tsps coriander powder
  • 1 tsp. garam masala
  • 1 tsp. turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp - mustard seeds for seasoning 
FOR MASALA - heat coconut oil in a pan, add onion, coconut, green chilli, curry leaves, tomato - fry for few minutes.  Add salt & coriander powder, fry for few more minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to completely cool.  Grind this in a blender by adding little water to a smooth paste.

HOW TO PROCEED - Place the pan back to the stove, heat coconut oil again and season with mustard seeds. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, cooked chickpeas & potato (if using), grinded paste, garam masala powder, salt - simmer for few minutes.  Remove from heat and serve hot with "puttu".

I just serve with some boiled rice as I didn't make puttu to go with this.